Spiritual Gifts
Gift of Administration
Here is an overview of the gift of administration in 1 Corinthians 12:28, looking at the Greek, the original context, and what it means for practical church life. This is a rich and nuanced gift that goes beyond simple "office management."
📖 1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV) “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”
The word “administrating” here is not about clerical tasks—it has a deeper and more strategic meaning rooted in Greek maritime language.
🧾 GREEK WORD: kubernēsis (κυβέρνησις)
🔍 Root: kubernáō (κυβερνάω)
This is not just someone who “keeps things running.” A kubernētēs was responsible for navigating the ship through uncertain waters—with wisdom, foresight, and steady decision-making.
This makes the gift of administration a strategic leadership role: someone who charts the course, anticipates obstacles, and makes sure all parts of the “ship” (the church) are moving in the right direction.
🏛️ Role in the Context of the Church
1. Strategic Direction and Oversight
⚙️ What the Gift of Administration Looks Like in Practice
📜 Historical & Cultural Background
✅ Summary Table
FeatureDetail Greek Word kubernēsis (κυβέρνησις)
Literal Meaning Steering, guiding, piloting a ship
Role in Church Strategic oversight, vision implementation, practical governance
Spiritual Function Organizing the church for effectiveness and alignment with God’s mission
Complementary Gifts Apostleship (mission), Teaching (content), Discernment (truth), Leadership (influence)
Modern Example Executive pastor, ministry coordinator, project leader with spiritual wisdom
💡Final Thought
This is a quiet but essential gift in the church. Without kubernēsis, churches can become disorganized, directionless, or ineffective, even with great teaching and passionate ministry. But with it, churches become focused, unified, and mission-driven—navigating through complexity with confidence and clarity.
Gift of Administration
Here is an overview of the gift of administration in 1 Corinthians 12:28, looking at the Greek, the original context, and what it means for practical church life. This is a rich and nuanced gift that goes beyond simple "office management."
📖 1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV) “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”
The word “administrating” here is not about clerical tasks—it has a deeper and more strategic meaning rooted in Greek maritime language.
🧾 GREEK WORD: kubernēsis (κυβέρνησις)
🔍 Root: kubernáō (κυβερνάω)
- Literally means: to steer, to pilot, or to guide a ship
- Related term: kybernētēs (κυβερνήτης) – a helmsman, navigator, or ship captain
- Only appears once in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12:2
This is not just someone who “keeps things running.” A kubernētēs was responsible for navigating the ship through uncertain waters—with wisdom, foresight, and steady decision-making.
This makes the gift of administration a strategic leadership role: someone who charts the course, anticipates obstacles, and makes sure all parts of the “ship” (the church) are moving in the right direction.
🏛️ Role in the Context of the Church
1. Strategic Direction and Oversight
- Not just doing tasks, but providing wise guidance and long-range planning.
- In modern terms: vision casting, ministry coordination, resource allocation.
- Helps ministries function efficiently while staying aligned with the church’s mission.
- Churches are made of many moving parts: teaching, worship, outreach, finances, small groups, etc.
- The gift of kubernēsis is like a spiritual operations director: ensuring systems are organized and coherent.
- This gift complements apostleship (mission), teaching (truth), shepherding (care), and discernment (spiritual clarity).
- Administrators are often the ones who implement what others envision.
- They take broad ideas and turn them into structured, actionable plans.
⚙️ What the Gift of Administration Looks Like in Practice
- Developing ministry strategies or church-wide initiatives
- Organizing volunteer teams or ministry rotations
- Creating communication systems to keep staff and leaders aligned
- Managing church resources (budgets, buildings, calendars)
- Steering the church through change or crisis with calm wisdom
- Anticipating problems and designing preventative structures
📜 Historical & Cultural Background
- In ancient Greek and Roman society, the kubernētēs was a highly respected figure—not flashy, but deeply trusted. The pilot of a ship had to:
- Read the stars and the sea
- Navigate storms and harbors
- Ensure all on board reached the destination safel
✅ Summary Table
FeatureDetail Greek Word kubernēsis (κυβέρνησις)
Literal Meaning Steering, guiding, piloting a ship
Role in Church Strategic oversight, vision implementation, practical governance
Spiritual Function Organizing the church for effectiveness and alignment with God’s mission
Complementary Gifts Apostleship (mission), Teaching (content), Discernment (truth), Leadership (influence)
Modern Example Executive pastor, ministry coordinator, project leader with spiritual wisdom
💡Final Thought
This is a quiet but essential gift in the church. Without kubernēsis, churches can become disorganized, directionless, or ineffective, even with great teaching and passionate ministry. But with it, churches become focused, unified, and mission-driven—navigating through complexity with confidence and clarity.